It’s been seven years since Enabling Devices featured now 21-year-old McKenzie Tuckson in our catalog. At the time, McKenzie, who has Rett syndrome and is non-verbal, was using several Enabling Devices augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) products to communicate. With these products and the loving support of her family and friends, McKenzie was able to realize her dream–becoming a high school cheerleader.
Recently, McKenzie’s mother Tamara Tuckson, a passionate advocate for people with disabilities, and the founder of Mission2Advocate – an organization that provides IEP consultation and support — checked in to let us know that her daughter is positively thriving. That’s in spite of the fact that when McKenzie was diagnosed with Rett syndrome, doctors predicted an extremely poor prognosis.
“We keep the motto that we don’t let Rett syndrome define us,” says Tamara. “We define it. We just decided to take a different approach to it and let her lead a normal life.”
That said, McKenzie has accomplished more than many of her typically developing peers.
“McKenzie is a six-year varsity cheerleader,” says Tamara. “She was vice president of the junior and senior classes at Whites Creek High School; the 2019 Westley-Rice Student Advocate of the Year for Tennessee; the 2022 Westley Morgan Tennessee Titans Community Hero; and the first non-verbal ambassador for Metro Nashville Public Schools. She is employed at Bubble Love Tea, is an advocate and public speaker, and we just published a book together!”
“McKenzie Can Talk” is a children’s picture book that teaches readers about the wonders of AAC devices. The book highlights Enabling Devices’ products such as the Big Talk, Talkables, Say it Play It and Hip Talk Plus.
“You all [and your products] have been so instrumental in McKenzie’s progress,” says Tamara. “In the book, McKenzie uses the devices in practical situations like saying the prayer at the dinner table, saying ‘trick or treat,’ and wishing her father a happy birthday.” It starts out with McKenzie’s cousins asking her why she can’t talk. A lot of people, especially younger kids, don’t understand. Part of the reason for the book was to show that even though McKenzie can’t talk like they talk, she still has something to say.”
In writing “McKenzie Can Talk,” Tamara hopes to bring information about AAC devices to people who can benefit from them.
“I’ve had so many clients from rural counties that did not know and did not have access to AAC devices or anything that was adaptive,” says Tamara. “A lot of them don’t have speech or occupational therapists. We were blessed because we live in Nashville, Tennessee, and we were able to go to Vanderbilt University to get the therapy. So, that was something that we wanted to give back to them. We wanted them to not only have a great children’s book, but also to know where to get these devices and how they work.”
At the back of the book, readers will find brief descriptions and QR codes for the products featured in the colorful paperback.
Now that “McKenzie Can Talk” is in print, McKenzie and Tamara plan to visit area schools to share the book and McKenzie’s communication devices with students.
“It’s one thing for us to read the book to you, but it’s another thing for you to come to the table and see how these how these devices actually work. Now, we can talk about perseverance, acceptance, access and all of those things, and show them that if McKenzie can do it, you can do it.”
You can order McKenzie’s book at https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/McKenzie-can-talk-McKenzie-tuckson/1146488715.
